CAREC - Special Projects: Caribbean Healthy Hotels

Caribbean Tourism Health and Safety Resource Conservation Project

Caribbean Tourism Health, Safety and Resource Conservation Project

[formerly the Caribbean Healthy Hotels Programme (CHHP) ]

"Meeting Health and Tourism Needs through Public/Private Partnership"

What is the Caribbean Healthy Hotels Project (CHHP)?

The Caribbean Healthy Hotels Project (CHHP) is a joint venture between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and Caribbean Action for Sustainable Tourism (CAST). (CHHP) takes a holistic approach to improve the health and hygiene conditions for guests and staff in hotels, leading to decreased liability, improved profitability and sustainability of tourism and economic development.

Visions for Caribbean Tourism

"To be the Safest, Healthiest and Happiest of Comparable Destinations in the World."
- CAREC

"The Caribbean Cares"
- CHA

"Caribbean Development through Quality Tourism"
- Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)

Why CHHP?

The CHHP initiative has been conceptualised for the following reasons:

	The Caribbean is the most tourism dependent region in the world. Travel and tourism is expected to generate US$32 billion dollars of economic activity in 1998, and contribute 25% GDP.
	In recent times, episodes of ill-health among visitors to the Caribbean have undermined the value of the tourism product with the resulting effect being loss of revenue, negative publicity for the region and litigious actions by affected visitors and tour operators.
	Ever increasing numbers of arrivals increase chances of importation of diseases to the Caribbean.
	The health and disease events among travelers to the region are more common than formerly realised.
	Global changes in information technology including Internet are forcing increased attention to and recognition of illness events in the Caribbean.

Caribbean economies are losing millions of dollars as a consequence of preventable ill health and disease in travelers.

What is the scope of CHHP?

The CHHP encompasses:

	Improvements in the health quality and safety of the services provided by the hotel sector of the tourism industry.
	Strengthening, promoting and increasing the effectiveness of health monitoring systems.
	Increasing the level of awareness of health and hygiene among workers in the hotel sector of the tourism industry.

What are the benefits of CHHP to the Hotel Industry?

	Training for staff in health and environment issues.
	Hotels self audit scheme to promote self reliance.
	Independent healthy hotel audit.
	Hotel health and disease monitoring system developed.
	Provisions of periodic updates on current issues in travel and health.
	Marketing edge and potential reduction of insurance costs.

What are the benefits of CHHP to Countries of the Caribbean?

	Improved health and environment standards in the hotel industry.
	Improved disease monitoring of the risk of new and re-emerging conditions.
	Better quality tourism product, which contributes to more sustainable tourism and economic development of the country.

How can my hotel participate in CHHP?

If you are a member of CHA.
If your country is within the Caribbean, and is a member of PAHO/CAREC.
If you are willing to pay a small annual fee per guest night (preliminary estimates at US$0.10).
You can be a partner in this most important project.

How do I obtain more information on CHHP?

You can find more information in our special newsletter Caribbean H.E.A.T (Healthy, Environmentally, Aligned Tourism) or for further information please contact: